How to Become a CBO (Circle Based Officer) in SBI Bank

The State Bank of India(SBI) has officially released the notification for the SBI CBO Recruitment 2026, aiming to fill 2273 vacancies for the post of Circle Based Officers. SBI has laid down several parameters to meet the eligibility criteria. The selection is done through a four-staged process, and post-academic work experience is mandatory. In this article, we provide a complete guide on how to become a CBO (Circle Based Officer) in SBI Bank, including the education qualification required, age limit, work experience, exam pattern insights, preparation tips, and more.

How to Become a CBO (Circle Based Officer) in SBI Bank

A Circle Based Officer (CBO) is a Junior Management Grade Scale-I (JMGS-I) officer in the State Bank of India. It is different from a Probationary Officer(PO) since CBO is not a transferable post. Candidates are posted in the location circle for which they have applied. This role is for candidates who are already working in the banking industry. As per the SBI CBO Recruitment 2026, the selection process is conducted in four phases, including an Online Objective Exam, Screening, Interview, and Local Language Test. Candidates not fulfilling the eligibility criteria will be rejected at any stage of the selection process.

Steps to Become a CBO (Circle Based Officer) in SBI

The CBO Recruitment under the State Bank of India is a golden opportunity for bankers to upgrade their roles straight to officer level, at the State Bank of India. Below, we have provided a step-by-step guide to help you become a Circle-Based Officer at a location of your choice under the SBI:

Step 1: Check SBI CBO Eligibility Criteria 2026

Read these parameters laid by the SBI on how to become a CBO (Circle Based Officer) in SBI Bank. Failure to meet these eligibility criteria will lead your application getting rejected at any stage of the selection process.

Candidate Must Be A Graduate

You must have a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university, or any equivalent qualification recognised as such by the Central Government. Professional degrees like Engineering, CA, Medical, and Cost Accountant are also valid.

Minimum Age Limit Criteria

You must be:

• Minimum: 21 years
• Maximum: 30 years

Candidates must have been born not later than 31.12.2004 and not earlier than 01.01.1996 (both days inclusive). The age relaxations for the reserved category candidates have been provided below:

• SC/ST: 5 years
• OBC (NCL): 3 years
• PwBD: Up to 15 years
• Ex-servicemen: 5 years

Must Have 2 Years Experience

You must have a minimum of 2 years of officer-level experience after graduation in:

• Any Scheduled Commercial Bank, or
• Any Regional Rural Bank (RRB) listed in the RBI Second Schedule

This work experience must be completed on or before 31st December 2025. Apart from this, the candidate’s job profile must be similar to SBI Scale-I Generalist Officer. If not, then your application may get rejected during the screening process.

Must Be Proficienct in Local Language

Candidates applying for this recruitment must be well-versed in the local language of the circle they have applied for, which includes reading, writing, and speaking the said language. Candidates who have studied the local language in 10th or 12th, and can produce a valid certificate for it, may be exempted from appearing for this local languange proficiency test.

Step 2: SBI CBO Selection Process

The selection process for the SBI CBO Recruitment 2026 is conducted in four phases. Candidates need to clear each every stage before moving to the next one.

1. Online Objective Exam (including a descriptive test)
2. Screening of experience & job profile
3. Interview
4. Local Language Test

Prepare for the SBI CBO Exam Pattern

The online objective exam for the SBI CBO 2026 is a 2-hour exam divided into 4 sections. It comprises 120 questions in total, each question carrying 1 mark. There is no negative marking for any incorrect attempts. Basides this online exam, there also exists a descriptive test. Refer to the table below for the detailed exam pattern:

Descriptive Test

The duration of the Descriptive Test is 30 minutes. It will be a Test of English Language (Letter Writing & Essay) with two questions for a total of 50 marks. There is no sectional cut off, and the minimum qualifying marks will be decided by the bank.

Screening Based on Eligibility and Online Exam Performance

Candidates who will clear the online examination will have their applications go through a screening committee. The committee will do a thorough check on the candidates’ documents in respect to their experience and job profile. Candidates numbering approximately 3 times the number of vacancies released will sit for the next round of the selection process, which is the interview round.

Appear for the interview

The interview will consist of 50 marks. Candidates will have to score the minimum qualifying marks in the interview to be considered for final selection. The minimum qualifying marks will be decided by the bank.

Step 3: Final Selection

The final selection is based on the marks scored in the objective and descriptive tests and the interview round. The final merit list is prepared from an aggregate score of out of 100, comprised in the following ratio:

• Online Test → 75% weightage
• Interview → 25% weightage

Preparation Tips for SBI CBO Recruitment 2026

Candidates preparing to become Circle-Based Officers @SBI must focus on consistent practice to clear the online exam, prepare strongly for the interview round in terms of their job profile and experience, and qualify the language proficiency test. Refer to the tips given below on how to become a CBO (Circle Based Officer) in SBI Bank:

• Focus mainly on Banking Knowledge, as this is the most important part of both the exam and the interview.
• Read banking and economic news daily, especially RBI updates, government schemes and financial policies.
• Practice English letter and essay writing regularly because the Descriptive Test carries 50 marks.
• Take mock tests to improve your speed and accuracy within the fixed time of each section.
• Prepare your job profile and work experience clearly, as SBI checks whether your role matches a Scale-I officer during screening.

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